Cessna 150J accident near Hatch, New Mexico, October 27, 1991
On October 27, 1991 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N50472, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hatch, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND HIS POOR PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL AND THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS ALOFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1991 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hatch, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N50472 · no longer on the register · serial 15069328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS WIFE WENT ON A ROUND ROBIN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE SECOND LEG, THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY BY DIPPING THE TANKS, AND CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD A TOTAL OF 20 GALLONS REMAINING FOR THE RETURN TRIP. WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE AROUND WEATHER TO REMAIN CLEAR OF CLOUDS. HIS SITUATION WAS FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY AN ESTIMATED 40 KNOT HEAD WIND. ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE TWICE FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS BOTH TIMES. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WITH BOTH OCCUPANTS ESCAPING UNHARMED. ONE FUEL CELL WAS TOTALLY EMPTY AND THE OTHER ONE HAD ABOUT A HALF CUP OF FUEL REMAINING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 31 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 7:15 pm
- Destination: LRU Las Cruces NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.